157: Zhongyi Hall

Ji Qingci had perhaps been lonely for too long; it was rare for her to have someone to talk to.

She transformed into a 'chatterbox,' pulling the two of them along to talk for three full days and nights, constantly refreshing Xu Jingzhe's worldview.

Blue Star, according to speculation, was once a celestial body even larger than the sun.

The eight planets of the Solar System had also once given birth to civilized races, all of which had later been destroyed.

As for whether there were any remaining or migrated racial civilizations inside the planets now, Ji Qingci did not know either.

After all, when she was born, Blue Star's civilization and technology had already infinitely declined, and as the various major families left, they had taken away the remaining high technology.

"I know that Adam City and Eve City encourage the use of alloys, Black Gold, etc., to modify the body; in fact, this is an inevitable trend."

"It's just that the technology they possess is not mature yet. Using metal to replace bones, arms, hearts, and so on, belongs to the most rudimentary level of modification; it cannot carry out deeper cellular or genetic modification."

Ji Qingci looked at Zhang Manyue and said regretfully, "In my opinion, you are just a defective product. If you were in the Ji family, you would have been destroyed long ago."

Zhang Manyue's expression turned cold. With a 'clang,' she drew her Black Gold Long Saber and glared at Ji Qingci.

Ji Qingci stuck out her tongue, raised her hands, and apologized repeatedly; only then did Zhang Manyue's expression soften slightly.

Xu Jingzhe looked at this terrifying woman before him and actually found her a bit cute.

"Was that mech that lost its head something you developed?" Xu Jingzhe asked with lingering fear.

"Hmm, it slept for so many years; I didn't expect the energy stone inside to still be usable. I hadn't even paid attention to it."

Ji Qingci revealed a slightly thoughtful expression and said, "It seems to have developed some of its own consciousness, but it's not certain yet."

Xu Jingzhe opened his mouth, swallowed the two words he wanted to say, and instead asked, "What is your current strength? If classified according to the ranks of Contaminators?"

"One foot has stepped into the ranks of forty-year Contaminants, I suppose," Ji Qingci said nonchalantly.

Xu Jingzhe was already numb; what kind of people and what kind of things were these?

He felt boundless pressure; she could truly crush him with just one finger.

It was laughable that upon their first meeting, he had even wanted to resist.

"However, my body's genes and cells were modified the moment I was born. Even if I can't beat a forty-year Contaminant, I won't be defeated," Ji Qingci added.

"Cough, cough, cough..." Xu Jingzhe choked.

These words, spoken so casually, were too much of a flex.

"Little one, your strength is too weak. When the various sleeping major families awaken one after another, countless families on Blue Star will perish. Surrender or perish—there are only these two possibilities," Ji Qingci kindly reminded him.

The awakened families would inevitably reshape their former glory, and the Ji family was no exception.

Plundering resources and leaping towards a higher level of life.

"So... along the way here, were the modified animals I encountered your handiwork?" Xu Jingzhe asked.

"Hmm, I was bored, and I had to find something to do."

Having met the master of this mountain range, continuing up the mountain was impossible. Ji Qingci was very hospitable and insisted on keeping Xu Jingzhe and Zhang Manyue there for over half a month.

The three of them chatted quite happily; Xu Jingzhe had a 'great learning' session, gaining considerable understanding of technology, and he was no longer a blockhead who knew nothing when asked.

Standing at the foot of the Black Mountain, Xu Jingzhe said goodbye to the two.

Zhang Manyue was left behind; Ji Qingci said she could replace the materials in her body bit by bit, making her no different from a real 'human.'

"Are you really not staying? It's only ten years or so. With the Ji family covering you, you could do whatever you wanted on Blue Star in the future," Ji Qingci tempted Xu Jingzhe.

The shock Xu Jingzhe brought her was not small either; especially that wisp of golden blood that spilled from the corner of his mouth, which made her think of someone who had dominated an era.

His surname was... Ye!

Xu Jingzhe might belong to the 'mutants' among humans, just like the Chiyou family lineage. Although the Chiyou bloodline was unique to that clan and did not intermarry with outsiders, in the propagation of billions of humans, some people would also mutate to have this bloodline.

These were the mutants among humans; as long as they could grow up smoothly, they would be terrifyingly powerful.

It was not that she didn't want to forcibly keep Xu Jingzhe, but she was worried that if he grew up, he would backlash against her; it was better to form a good relationship.

"I still have many friends waiting for me. I used to be very weak, and they protected me."

"Now, I am growing stronger bit by bit; there is no reason for me not to hold an umbrella for them."

Ji Qingci crossed her arms and nodded, looking at Xu Jingzhe with great appreciation. "I look forward to you growing up; in the future, we will fight side by side."

A large python approached from afar; it was the very same python she had seen at the bottom of the lake that was showing signs of transforming into a jiao.

It flicked its long snake tongue, kept its head low, and rubbed against Ji Qingci's feet.

Only then did Xu Jingzhe discover that the python's scales were made of alloy, piece by piece, vivid and lifelike.

"Go, take him out of the New Realm," Ji Qingci said to the python.

The python slithered over and stopped beside Xu Jingzhe, signaling him to get on.

Xu Jingzhe leaped lightly, stood on the python's body, and waved goodbye to Zhang Manyue.

His mood was heavy. If it was truly as Ji Qingci had said, no one could say for sure what kind of chaos Blue Star would become in the future.

He also instantly understood why the higher-ups of the Compound Zone Alliance had made such moves, and why none of the top-tier families had opposed it.

This was already a very tactful method; they hadn't directly wiped out ordinary families to seize resources into their own hands.

Ten years!

The time was too short; how far he could grow was an unknown.

The python moved very quickly, and the wind whistled by his ears. The wind swept up Xu Jingzhe's hair, and his expressionless face could not hide his handsomeness.

At the edge of the New Realm, the python stopped, didn't even glance at Xu Jingzhe, and turned to leave.

Xu Jingzhe strode forward. These matters could not be rushed; he would solve the immediate problems first.

"Hum~"

"Damn it!" The moment Xu Jingzhe disappeared, he cursed loudly; he had stepped into a strange space, and he didn't know where he would be teleported to.

He had reason to suspect that the python had done it on purpose.

Jealous that he was too handsome!

Appearing again, Xu Jingzhe looked at the scenery before him and let out a long breath.

He was still at the edge of the New Realm, just in a different direction. Before him was an endless desert, the yellow sand scorched by the sun.

His strength had recovered seven or eight parts, so Xu Jingzhe was no longer worried.

He decided to cross the desert to find Tark City.

He had only walked a few dozen miles when he saw two figures running quickly towards him from the front. When they got close, one of them shouted loudly, "Stop! Who are you, daring to trespass into the forbidden area of Zhongyi Hall!"

"Zhongyi Hall?" Xu Jingzhe paused, what the heck was that?

He cupped his fists and said, "Two big brothers, this little brother was training alone in the Pollution Zone, lost his way, and accidentally trespassed into the forbidden area. I'll leave right away."

After saying this, Xu Jingzhe turned and left.

"Slow down!" One of them rolled his eyes and said, "Since we are all Contaminators, it just so happens that today is the Hall Master's eightieth birthday, and we are short-handed. Come over and help."

The two of them didn't care whether Xu Jingzhe agreed or not and pushed him along.